Wolf Pack Weekly

Published on April 18, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


The Wolf Pack completed their eighth season of play in the American Hockey league with their eighth berth in post-season action. The team finished the year with a franchise record 50 wins, 24 losses, three overtime losses and three shootout losses, good for 106 points, and second place in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. The Pack led the league in home wins with 30 and penalty minutes with 2,586. The club also boasted the second-best penalty-killing unit in the league with an efficiency of 89.1%, bested only by Norfolk.

Steve Valiquette and Jason LaBarbera won the Harry "Hap" Holmes Award for allowing the fewest goals in the league, allowing only 160 goals in 80 games. The stingy two goals per game average is also a franchise record for fewest goals allowed in a season, and is third lowest total ever in an 80-game AHL regular season. The pair becomes the first tandem since 1989-90 to finish one and two in the goals-against standings. Jeff Hamilton ended the year tied for second place for most game winning goals (10), while Lawrence Nycholat had the third-best shootout percentage in the league with a .667 efficiency rating.

Atlantic Division Semi-Finals: Hartford Wolf Pack versus Lowell Lock Monsters

The Pack begins round one of the 2005 Calder Cup Playoffs facing the Lowell Lock Monsters. The Wolf Pack had a regular season record of 5-2-0-1 versus Lowell, their last game a 5-1 win in Lowell on April 3.

Wolf Pack Notes:
* Martin Grenier will sit out the first game of the Lowell series serving the second game of a two-game suspension as a result of an altercation in the April 16 game versus Springfield.
* Trevor Gillies will sit out seven more games (of an eight-game suspension) as a result of the same altercation in Springfield.
* Leading scorers for the Wolf Pack versus Lowell are Jed Ortmeyer (5-3-8) and Jeff Hamilton (3-3-6)
* Goaltender Steve Valiquette is 6-0-0-1 against Lowell, with a 0.71 GAA and two shut-outs

Lock Monsters Notes:
* Lowell ended their season with a 6-1 win over Albany, and finished the year with a record of 47-27-1-5, good for 100 points and third place in the Atlantic Division.
* Four of their players finished the regular season with more than 50 points - Eric Staal (26-51-77), Chuck Kobasew (38-37-75), Colin Forbes (27-37-64) and Mike Zigomanis (29-31-60). Staal and Kobasew were +37 for the season.
* Goaltender Cam Ward finished the year with the best saves percentage in the league at .937
* High scorers against the Wolf Pack are Mike Zigomanis (4-2-6) and Eric Staal (2-3-5)

Head-to-Head:

Hartford Lowell

Home Record 30-8-1-1 26-11-0-3

Away Record 20-16-2-2 21-16-1-2

Scoring First 34-3-2-1 34-9-0-3

Leading after First 17-0-2-1 21-4-0-3

Leading after Second 27-3-1-1 32-1-0-1

Tied after First 23-9-1-2 18-13-1-0

Tied after Second 16-2-2-1 12-8-1-2

Trailing after First 10-15-0-0 8-10-0-2

Trailing after Second 7-19-0-1 3-18-0-2

Outshooting Opponent 31-11-3-1 25-12-1-1

One goal games 25-6-3-3 14-11-1-5

Power play 14.8% 15.4%

Penalty Killing 89.1% 87.0%

Game #1: Thursday, April 21 - Hartford Civic Center 7:05 p.m.
* On the web only at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Game #2: Saturday, April 23 - Hartford Civic Center 7:05 p.m.
* Fans attending the game will receive a bandana/rally towel courtesy of Comcast (while supplies last)
* Radio - live on ESPN Radio 1410 with Bob Crawford and on the web: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Game #3: Sunday, April 24 - Tsongas Arena 4:00 p.m.
* Joined in progress on ESPN Radio 1410 after New York Yankees baseball, and live on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Game #4: Tuesday, April 26 - Tsongas Arena 7:00 p.m.
* Broadcast information TBA

Ticket Information:

Individual tickets for the Wolf Pack's first two home games (Games A and B) are on sale now at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations and on the web at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. Individual tickets for the first round are available in advance for as little as $9.00 for youth and $17.00 for adults. Playoff ticket strips (all 16 games) are on sale now by calling (860) 548-2000. Prices start as low as $198.40 for adults and $107.20 for youth 16 and under.

Season tickets are on sale now for the 2005-06 regular season. There has been no change in ticket prices for the 05-06 year, and season tickets are available now for as little as $456 for an adult or $228 for youths for 40 home games.

Recent Transactions:

Ivan Baranka signed to an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO) effective April 18, 2005.

Lee Falardeau and Rory Rawlyk recalled from Charlotte of the ECHL effective April 17, 2005

Practice Schedule:

All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the Hartford Civic Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell. As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 246-7825 Ext. 256 before attending a practice.

Tue. April 19 11:00 a.m. to noon, HCC

Wed. April 20 10:00 to 11:15 a.m., HCC

Thu. April 21 10:00 - 11:15 a.m., HCC (Game #1 vs. Lowell)

Fri. April 22 10:00 - noon, HCC

Sat. April 23 10:00 - 11:15 a.m., HCC (Game #2 vs. Lowell)

Sun. April 24 Game #3 in Lowell

Mon, April 25 TBD

Pack Tracks:

The Hartford Wolf Pack "Pack Shop" at 100 Allyn Street is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as two hours prior to and one hour after each and every Wolf Pack home game, including Saturday and Sundays. A full line of Wolf Pack merchandise is available, while a limited selection of items will still be available in the Civic Center Mall before games.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 18, 2005


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